ML20203L109
| ML20203L109 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 02/27/1998 |
| From: | Blaha J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| SECY-98-031, SECY-98-031-R, SECY-98-31, SECY-98-31-R, WIR-980220, NUDOCS 9803050357 | |
| Download: ML20203L109 (24) | |
Text
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Ecbriarv 27. 1998 SECY 98-031 Ent:
The Comissioners /
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Ecom:
James L. Blana Assi Ifo'r-erations. Office of the EDO
Subject:
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 20, 1998 Contents Enclosure Nuclear Reactor Regulation A
Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards B
Nuclear Regulatory Research C
Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data D*
General Counsel E*
Administration F
Chief Information Officer G
Chief Financial Officer H*
.!'uman Resources I
Small Business & Civil Rights J*
Enforcement K*
State Programs L*
Public Affairs M
International Programs N*
Office of the Secretary 0
Region I P
Region II P
Region III P
Region IV P
Executive Director for Operations 0*
Congressional Affairs R
- No input this week.
James L. Blaha Assistant for Operations. OEDO
Contact:
S. Shae#fer, OEDO t
Document Name:
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UNITED STATES 4
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMIS$10N WASHINGTON, D. C. 20845 February 27. 1998 INFORMATION REPORT SECY 98-031 f_Qt:
The Commissioners fcom:
James L. Blaha, Assistant for Operations. Office of the ED0 Subiect:
WEEKLY INFORMATION REPORT - WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 20. 1998 Contents Enclosure Nuclear Reactor Regulation A
Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards B
Nuclear Regulatory Research C
Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data D*
General Counsel E*
Administration F
Chief Information Officer G
Chief Financial Officer H*
Human Resources I
Small Business & Civil Rights J*
Enforcement K*
State Programs L*
Public Affairs M
International Programs N*
Office of the Secretary 0
Region I P
Region 11 P
Region III P
Region IV P
Executive Director for Operations 0*
Congressional Affairs R
- No input this week.
($W9 JJmes L. Blaha -
^'ssistant for Operations OED0 V
Contact:
- 9. Shaeffer, OEDO
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- Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulatioil items of Interest-Week Ending February 20, 1998 l-Maine-Yankee-I The staff has scheduled a enforcement conference with the Maine Yankee
-licensee for Friday. March 27. 1998. The matters to be discussed were presented in a letter dated December 19. 1997. from the Region I Regional Administrator to the licensee. They include the RELAP5YA small-break LOCA 4
analysis, atmospheric _ steam dump valve capacity, and failure to follow a surveillance test procedure.
Turkey Point. Unit 3
)
On February 16. 1998. Unit 3 was manually tripped from full power when the operators noticed a total loss of load on the main generator.
Following the 5
manual trip, a " fish mouth" steam leak occurred in the 2-inch drain line off the train 2 steam supply to the turbine driven auxiliary feedwater (AFW) pumps. Control ro" operators could not initially determine the source of the steam leak and, fr owing procedures. declared an unusual event. All other l
systems respondeo. ; expected. The leak was isolated and the licensee terminated the unu'.ual event approximately 90 minutes after the event.
l Inspection revealed that the 2-inch schedule 80 carbon steel piping exhibited externally initiated corrosion in the area of piping support straps.
The piping system is open to the effects of weather and is insulated. This portion of the system is normally isolated until initiation of AFW which is tested monthly.
The system was last pressurized for testing on January 23.
j 1998.
j
- The licensee is removing insulation and inspecting piping susceptible to this condition on both units and both trains.
The operating unit was in a 72-hour 15 action statement; however, the system was operable before a shutdown was t
- required.
The loss of load was caused by a total loss of control oil which caused the control and in%rcept valves to close. The licensee is still investigating the cause of the loss of-control oil and Unit 3 is expected to remain off line for several days.
Salem.-Units 1 and 2 Operational Status - The licensee shut down Salem Unit 2 on February 11. 1998, after the turbocharger on the 2A emargency diesel generator failed.
This was the most recently refurbished turbocharger that-was performed by a vendor-(Canadian Allied Diesel) not involved with the other turbochargers. The cause of the failure was due.to driver side blade cracking that is balieved at this--
time to be from fatigue-~ induced by a flow anomaly. However, a metallurgical
- analysis is.being performed on the failed blades. The licensee has inspected-February 20. 1998' ENCLOSURE A e
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the engine and found no slide valve'or other problems that could have accounted for.the. turbocharger failure.
The replacement turbocharger received nondestructive examination, and the others will also be inspected.
On February 18. 1998, the licensee began heating up Salem Unit 1-to enter Mode-4 (hot shutdown).
There are several hold points during the heatup to-establish steam generator chemistry and perform dimensional inspections on the new steam generators. The 2-week NRC Readiness Assessment Team Inspection (RATI) began on February 9, 1998. The RATI exit meeting is scheduled for-February 27, 1998.
The licensee _is also tentatively scheduled to brief the Regional Administrator on its readiness for restart on that same day. -There-are no technical and ^ programmatic items (MOVs and Integrated Test Program) that need to be close: before the unit can restart.
Salem Assessment Panel - The Salem Assessment Panel will meet on February 26, 1998, to discuss Unit I readiness for restart.
Licensing Actions - Currently, there are no licensing amendments that are needed before the scheduled restart of Unit 1.
D.C. Cook. Units 1 and 2 The licensee has completed work on the cracked covers on the solid state protection system relays and the balancing of the hydrogen distribution system (CE0) fans.
However, the licensee continues to identify issues involving their ice condenser. The licensee has determined that the ice condenser weights used to determine compliance with technical specifications may not constitute a representative sample. Although an estimate of the total ice mass indicates that the total
' mass requirement was met, additional data is needed to determine if tt Jrrent sample methodology is representative.
The licensee alsa determined irough testing that damaged ice baskets may not be able to withstand operational basis earthquake and dead weight loads.
Baskets which should have withstood a compressive load of 4,933 lbs, failed at approximately 2,000 lbs. Additionally, an inspection of the bottom coupling rings for the ice baskets identified two where the total number of missing fasteners exceeded the allowed limit.
Inspections of additional rings will continue.
The licensee is currently assessing the impact of these issues.
In-addition, a review of past surveillance data on the hydrogen recombiners indicated that the measured resistance to ground following the completion of the functional test was less than required. The licensee believes that the recombits, would have performed its safety _ function even with the icwer resistance value.
The licensee's investigation is continuing.
No official request for having the next meeting with the NRC to discuss the CAL has been made to date.
~ February 20, 1998 ENCLOSURE A
Zion. Units 1 and 2 On February 13. 1998, Commonwedith Edison provided written certification that i
operations had been permanently ceased at Zion Units 1 and 2 effective February 13, 1998.
This certification was provided in acco* dance with the requirements of 10 CFR 50.82(a)(1)(1) and 10 CFR 50.4(b)(8),
The station is preparing tc cegin defueling Unit 2 by February 23, 1998. Unit 1 is defueled.
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February 20, 1998 ENCLOSURE A
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n Office of Nuclc r Material Safety and Safeguards Items of Interest l'
Week Ending February 20, 1998 l
U.S.-Jaoan Safeauards Bilaterals During the week of February 9.1998, a staff member from the Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards participated on an interagency team that met with 4
representatives-from the Japanese government and industry to discuss the implementation of nuclear material safeguards in Japan and the U.S.
The i
4 meetings were held in Tokai and Tokyo, Japan. The principal focus of the bilateral meetings was the implementation of the International Atomic Energy Agency's Strengthened Safeguards System.
The Japanese described proposed I
changes to the structure of the Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuels Development Corporation and within the Japanese government.
These changes are being made in response to the accidents at the Tokai Bituminization Plant and the Monju Reactor.
International Atomic Enerav Aaency Coordinated Technical Suocort Proaram Meetina On February 9 11. 1998, a staff member from the Division of Fuel Cycle Safety L
and Safeguards aarticipated in the Third Annual Review Meeting of the Coordinated Tec1nical Support Program to the Newly Independent States (NIS) at s
the International Atomic Energy Agency Headquarters in Vienna. Austria.
The purpose of the meeting was to review the status of the support of donor nations to the NIS in the areas of material protection, control, and accounting and export control.
The review meeting enables donor nations to coordinate their support efforts to the recipient states to optimize the use 4
of resources.
4 German Observation of the Nuclear Reaulatorv Commission Evaluation i
On February 9-12. 1998, a staff member from the Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards accompanied a delegation from Germany to observe a Nuclear Regulatory Commission Operational Safeguards Response Evaluation at the Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant. The purpose of the visit was to observe how specialized NRC performance based evaluations augment NRC safeguards regulatory programs.
Germany will soon be conducting a comprehensive review and asr...ent of the physical protection systems at nuclear power plants and requested to observe NRC power reactor vulnerability analysis metnods.
Meetina with the Decartment of Enerov to Discuss Task Order Related to Draftina Leaislative Lanauaae to Suonort the Nuclear Reaulatory Commission e.
Licensina of a Mixed 0xide Fuel Fabrication Facility On February 13. 1998. staff from the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and 4
Safeguards. Office of the General Counsel, and the External Regulation February 20. 1998 ENCLOSURE E 1
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Department of Energy (DOE) Task Force participated in a meeting with DOE's Office of Fissile Materials Disposition.
The meeting was requested'by DOE to discuss the draft task order 97-2 initially submitted to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in December 1997.
Under the Reimbursable Agreement, this tan order requests NRC's collaboration in drafting legislation to allow-NRC to.icense a mixed oxide fuel fabrication facility owned by DOE and operated by a contractor.
Meetinas with the Denartment of Enercy Reaulatory Unit During the week of February 9, 1998, in a meeting at Hanford. Washington, the Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards staff provided comments to the Department of Energy's (DOE) Regulatory Unit (RU) on the British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BNFL). Inc.. Initial Safety Analysis Report for the Hanford Tank Waste Remediation System (TWRS).
Out of the approximately 150 comments submitted to DOE by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff, roughly 30% were already incorporated into existing RU questions to be submitted to BNFL.
The RU agreed to submit another 40% to BNFL Inc., as new questions, and the rest were considered as open issues pending clarification on further review of BNFL's technical report addendums.
While at Hanford, NRC staff *o attended a Hanford Advisory Board (HAB) meeting at which BNFL and Lmised Martin Advanced Environmental Systems.
Inc., presented an overview u che TWRS Phase la status and their overall approach to Phase Ib.
The HAB was concerned about the lack of attention by Congress to the WRS program and budget, and has sent a letter to Congres3 urging priority consideration.
Visit to Schio L Bar Uranium Recovery Site On February 11, 1998, staff from the Division of Waste Management and its Colorado State University Contractor visited the Schio L-Bar. New Mexico, site to discuss the licensee's approach to dealing with site degradation due to sedimentation of erosion protection channels.
The L-Bar site is one of the eight old uranium mill tailings sites where previously-approved reclamation plans may not meet current staff guidance for erosion protection.
For these sites, the Commission determined that the licensees should not be required to redesign to meet current criteria unless the staff identified a situation where significant degradation had occurred.
The staff observed trenching and trench logging activities conducted by the licensee to ascertain the amount of cediment deposited in drainage char.nels at the site since construction in 1989.
The licensee proposes to provide the Nuclear Regulatory Commission with a report of the results of its findings. including a plan of action to correct l-and prevent future degradation of the reclaimed tailings, in early March.
i February 20, 1998 ENCLOSURE B
e Meetina with the Deoartmant of Enerav Uranium Mill Tailinas Remedial Action Pro 1ect Of fice On February 10. 1998, staff from the Division of Waste Management met with representatives of the Department of Energy (DOE). Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action (UMTRA) Project Office, in Albuquerque. New Mexico, to discuss schedules for completion of surface reclamation and long term licensing of Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act (UMTRCA) Title I sites. Under UMTRCA. DOE is to have completed all surface reclamation by September 30.
1998, with the exception of the Grand Junction. Colorado, site, which will remain open to accept contaminated material from vicinity properties until the cell is filled or 2023, whichever comes first.
DOE laid out tentative dates for all submittals necessary to complete the surface cleanup activities under UMTRCA.
Of the 22 sites under UMTRCA only five remain to be licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. and, of those five, only two sites are still under construction.
DOE proposes to have all construction completed at these 4
two sites by September 1998. but for one of those sites, it will not be able to submit the necessary documentation of construction completion, long-term care plans, or land annotation until late October 1998.
Acoroval of Reclamation Plan ror American Nuclear Corocration's Gas Hills Site On February 13. 1998, staff from the Division of Waste Management issued a letter approving the Final Reclamation Plan for Tailings Pond No. 2 at the American Nuclear "orporation (ANC) uranium mill and tailings site. Gas Hills.
Wyoming. The plan was submitted by the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEO) which is reclaiming the site under a Confirmatory Order issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ANC. the site owner and licensee, i
discontinued operation and went out of business in May 1994: the reclamation bond was forfeited to WDEO whth accepted responsibility for site reclamation.
The ANC site reclamation plan was approved by NRC in 1984, and was one of the eight plans determined to be acceptable under Commission Paper SECY-95-155 on June 29, 1995.
WDE0 and its contractors worked with NRC staff to improve the ANC plan, and it is this improved plan which was approved February 13. 1998. The plan also included a preliminny reclamation plan for Pond No. 1: a final plan for Pond No I will be submitted by WDEO for NRC review and approval prior to reclamation of Pond No. 1.
Advisory Committee on Medical Uses of Isotooes - Subcommittee Meetina with Part 35 Workina Groun Members On February 9-10 and February 12-13. 1998, the Part 35 Working Group met with two Advisory Committee on Medical Uses of Isotopes (ACMUI) subcommittees. The purpose of the meetings was to discuss proposed revisions to the 1979 Medical February 20. 1998 ENCLOSURE B
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Policy Statement: the Part 35 draft rule text that was placed on the INTERNET on January 30. 1998: and associated draft guidance for the rule. These meetings were held in preparation for the March 1-2, 1998. meeting of the full ACHUl.
The meeting on February 9-10, 1998. focused on diagnostic and therapeutic uses of unsealed radionuclides. The meeting on February 12-13, 1998, focused on therapeutic uses of sealed radionuclides.
hajor areas of discussion included training and experience for authorized users and requirements for written directives, patient notification following medical events, and reporting of medical events and significant precursors to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
In addition, committee members discussed technical requirements for teletherapy, remote afterloaders, and gamma stereotactic radiosurgery units.
Intearated Materials Performance Evaluation Proaram Review of Reaion II's Nuclear Materials Proaram On February 9-13, 1998, a multidisciplinary review team led by the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS), and composed of technical staff from NMSS. Region III. the Office of State Programs, and the State of California conducted an Integrated Materials Performance Evaluation Program (IMPEP) review of Region II's nuclear materials program.
The review assessed the five common performance indicators for materials programs (quality of licensing, quality of inspections, technical staffing and training, status of the inspection program, and response to incidents and allegations).
The review also focused on two non-common performance indicators:
the fuel cycle program, and performance with respect to the Operating Plan goals and resot'rce utilization.
The team held exit meetings with the Regional Administrator and the Region II Division of Nuclear Material Safety (DNMS) managers on February 13, 1998, to report preliminary results.
The review team made a small number of recommendations to Region II and commented that the team will recommend a finding of adequacy for the DNMS program, based on the review team's recommendations of " Satisfactory" for each of the indicators (the highest IMPEP finding).
The review team is currently preparing a draft report, to be followed by Regional review of the draft report in March and a Management Review Board (MR8) meeting in late April or early May.
Final determination of DNMS' program adequacy is made by the MRB.
Meetina with Amersham Corocration Reaardir Transoortation Packaces On February 19. 1998, the Spent Fuel Prcject Office met with Amersham Corporation regarding possible design changes and retesting of the Model No.
660 radiography device with respect to the transportation requirements in 10 CFR Part 71. Amersham discussed possible design modifications of the Model No. 660 and their plans for re-testing the package to demonstrate that the modified design meets Part 71.
Amersham plans to submit a revised test plan for Nuclear Regt?atory Commission review and approval and proposes to retest the package shortly thereafter.
February 20, 1998 ENCLOSURE B
Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research Items of Interest Week Ending February 20, 1998 Fuel Behavior During normal operation, fuel rod cladding oxidizes on the water side, and the rate of oxidation accelerates at high burnups leading to heavy accumulations of oxide in some cases.
Bec?use one of the licensing criteria on fuel damage during a postulated loss-of-toolant accident (LOCA) is a limit on cladding oxidation (17% limit specifiea in 10 CFR 50.M questions have been raised about the adequacy of regulatory criteria an; oafety analyses for high-burnup fuel.
In 1997. RES initiated a program at the Argonne National Laboratory to directly measure the effects of high burnup on the LOCA criteria and to measure the fundamental mechanical properties of cladding from commercial high burnup. fuel rods.
From its inception, cooperation in this research program was sought from the U.S. industry and from the international community.
While information is being shared with all parties, the Electric Power Research Institute offered a more substantial partnership.
Thus, on February 12, 1998. EPRI and NRC signed an Addendum on Testing of High Burnup Fuel, whico became the first specific application of the general Memorandum of Undersianny un woperative Nuclear Safety Research that became effective October 1. 1997. The signing on February 12 by Malcolm Knapp of RES and Robin Jones of EPRI took place at EPRI offices in Palo Alto. Under this agreement.
EPRI will provide all the fuel rods for testing.
These fuel rods will be obtained from commercial power plants in the United States, precharacterized, cut into manageable lengths, shipped to Argonne National Laboratory, and given to the NRC program for testing, thus reducing NRC's costs significantly.
EPRI is also providing important technical input that will enhance the quality of the effort.
Interpretation and analysis of the data from this program will be performed separately and independently by NRC and EPRI to avoid conflicts of interest.
The results will form a data base for confirming or revising criteria and models for LOCA analysis and for performing other detailed fuel rod analyses, i
Publication of Draft Reaulatorv Guide DG-1029.
" Guidelines for Evaluatina Electromaanetic and Radio-Frecuency Interference.in Safetv-Related I&C Systems' Electromagnetic and radio frequency interference (EMI/RFI) and power surges are potentially risk significant environmental stressors for safety-related instrumentat1on and controls (I&C).
The need to develop specific practices to address EMI/RFI and power surge issues in safety-related I&C systems is stated in SECY-91-273. " Review of Vendors' Test Programs to Support the Design Certification of Passive Light Water Reactors." The guidance in DG-1029 contributes to the goal of ensuring electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) in nuclear power plants for safety-related digital or analog I&C equipment.
The draft guide also describes design. installation, and testing practices February 20, 1998 ENCLOSURE C
acceptable for addressing the effects of EMI/RFI and power surges on both analog and digital I&C systems that perform safety-related functions. The EMC guidelines are based on well-established, consensus military and commercial approaches. The technical-basis behind selecting these particular practices is given in NUREG/CR 6431 (December 1997). This NUREG/CR presents recommended EMI/RFI operating envelopes that characterize the electromagnetic conditions at key locations in nuclear power plants, such as control rooms, cable spreading rooms, and turbing bays and has also been submitted for public comment.
The guidelines are intended to reduce the uncertainty of the effects from EMI/RFI and power surges on the performance of safety-related I&C equipment.
This draft regulatory guide was issued on February 10. 1998, for a 60-day public comment period, Ground Water Monitorina Technoloav Transfer Workshoo An important regulatory issue for the site decommissioning management plan and for low-level waste and high-level waste and buried radioactive waste tank sites is the estimation of infiltration and ground-water recharge rates and distributions that affect radionuclide release and subsequent migration. A
" hands-on" technology trarsfer workshop was held February 11-12, 1998, at the University of Arizona's (UAZ) Maricopa Agricultural Center (MAC) to provide NRC staff and invitees with field demonstrations and discussions on their research findings.
The RES-funded research involves evaluating and testing ground-water monitoring strategies focusing on specific state-of-the-art field systems, methods, and instrumentation.
Findings from the MAC field experiments that simulated infiltration events to test the monitoring systems and instrumentation were presented and discussed.
The analysis of the field data will help to provide technical bases for reviewing site ground-water monitoring programs.
The 46 workshop attendees included NRC licensing and research staff. Agreement State (i.e., Utah Washington, Arizona, Texas, California, and New York) developers, regulators and representatives. U.S. Geological Survey scientists.
00t' national laboratory (Lawrence Berkeley NL, Pacific Northwest NL, Idaho National Engineering Laboratory) and Nevada Test Site contractor scientists, university scientists, and private sector consultants. The workshop was structured to maximize time in the field for demonstrating the field methods and instruments, to observe the meteorological, irrigation, and data storage systems, and to question the UAZ investigators on lessons learned.
The workshop concluded with discussions on monitoring program objectives, relationship to facility performance confirmation, and reliability and durability aspects of the systems and instruments tested.
It is expected that a NUREG/CR report outlining the field study research results, including lessons learned, will be issued in October 1998.
February 20, 1998 ENCLOSURE C
Offic? of Administration items of Interest Week Ending February 20, 1998 USLC A three member NRC inspection team (ADM, OCIO, and Region III) are scheduled to conduct a follow-up security inspection of the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant during the week of February 23, 1998.
The purpose of the inspection is to ensure that the findings noted during the last security inspection (May 5-9,1997) which resulted in escalated enforctent have been adequately addressed and closed out.
Reoort on Cost Estimates for Security Classification Ac%, Lies The Information Security Oversight Office (1500) is required to report annually to the President and the Congress cost estimates for security classification activities.
This requirement stems from Executive Order (E.0.)
12958, " Classified National Security Information,"
E.0. 12829, " National Industrial Security Program," and from Congress through a House Appropriations Committee Report.
ADM, in coordination with OCF0, prepared and submitted the NRC portion of this report by providing FY 1997 costs along with estimated costs for FY 1998 and FY 1999.
ADM, also with OCF0 support, provided statistical support to the Secretary of Defense. Executive Agent for the National Industrial Security Program, in developing the cost estimates for U.S. industry.
Documents Submitted for Publication The following document has been forwarded to the Offite of the Secretary for signature and transmittal to the Office of the Federal Register for publication:
A Federal Register notice that will withdraw the Commission's direct final rule concerning criticality accident requirements and revoke the codified regulatory text contained in the direct final rule Receiot of Petition for Rulemakina (PRM-71-12) from International Enerav Consultants. Inc.
A notice of receipt of a petition for rulemaking st:bmitted by International Energy Consultants, Inc. was published in the Federal Register on February 19, 1998 (63 FR 8362). The petitioner requests that the Commission amend its regulations governing the packaging and transportation of radioactive material to elim',;1 ate special requirements for plutonium shipments. The comment period for this action closes May 5, 199f,.
February 20. 1998 ENCLOSURE F
Chief Information Officer items of Interest Week Ending February 20. 1998 Ergedom of Information and Privacy Act Reauests Received durino the 4-Day Period of February 13. 1998 - February 19. 1998:
LA State Penitentiary and vicinity, land-use history.
(F0:: /A 98-073)
Northwest Air / Airlines, correspondence with 1989 through 1998.
(F01A/PA-98-074)
Brachytherapy misadministrations, computer based. -(F01A/PA-98-075)
University of Missouri Research Reactor,1995 interview transcript of named individual.
(F01A/PA-98-076)
MLTS, list of medical use licensees, state of Michigan.
(F01A/PA-98 077)
NRC organizational listing with addresses.
(F01A/PA-98-078)
PSE&G file, performance improvement plan and termination letter on named individual.
(F01A/PA-98-079) 4 a
February-20, 1998 ENCLOSURE G 4
Office of Human Resources Items of Interest Week Ending February 20, 1998 Human Resources Develcomont (HRD) Staff Members Attend HRD Council Meetina l
On February 18, 1998. Eileen Mason and Lillian vanSanten attended the Human Resources Development Council meeting at the Department of Health and Human Services.
The Council, a grou.n of training directors and staff from departments and agencies tnrou9..'t the Federal government, provides leadership to the Federal government in human resources development issues and in building high performing organizations.
Topics discussed were a demonstration of a CD Rom and Handbook on resolving poor performance issues, a bench marking forum sponsored by the American Society for Training and Development, forthcoming conferences sponsored by the American Society for Training and Development and by the Office of Personnel Management, and projects dealing with HRD professionalism and building high performing organizations.
1 February 20, 1998 ENCLOSURE I
Office of Public Affairs items of Interest Week Ending February 20, 1998 Media Interest Chairman Jackson was interviewed by Ihe New York Times and The Day (New London, CT).
WNBC-TV 1s planning a story on radioactive materials users in the northeast.
Reqion III has been preparing for a meeting with Advanced Medical Systems next week.
School Volunteers Procram Students from Ridgeview M.S. visited NRC as winners of a computer ethics essay contest, organized by Louis Numkin. CIO.
The students toured the technology center, the operations center, and the library and training centers, and were awarded certificates by Tony Galante.
Also participating were: Lew Clayman.
Ilyne Miller. Chris Hoxie, Judy Seeherman. Debbie Fling and Ron Deavers, OCIO.
August Spector, OHR, John Jolicouer, AE0D, and Mindy Landau. OPA.
Jim Kennedy. NMSS, spoke at an environmental seminar at American University.
Press Releases Headquarters:
98-27 Note to Editors: ACRS Meeting March 2 98-28 NRC Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards to Meet in Rockville, Maryland, March 5-6 98-29 NRC Withdraws Proposal on Inadvertent Criticality Requirements for Nuclear Power Plants Regions:
I-98-17 NRC to Discuss Apparent Shipping Violation With Delaware Firm I-98-18 Note to Editors: Upcoming Millstone Meetings I-98-19 NRC Staff to Review Findings of Salem Unit 1 Restart Inspection: Regional Administrator to Meet With Press Following Meeting 11-98-10 NRC Staff to Discuss Apparent Violation With Kentucky Engineering and Testing Company on February 18 February 20, 1998 ENCLOSURE M
i 11 98 11 NRC Staff Sets Enforcement Conference With CP&t. to Discuss Regulatory Concerns at Harris 11 98-12 NRC Commissioner Diaz to Visit Catawba Nuclear Power J
Plant 11-98-13 NRC Staff to Meet February 27 With FPC Management to Discuss Restart of Crystal River Nuclear Plant IV-98-8 NRC. Entergy Meet to Discuss Apparent Violations at Arkansas Nuclear One IV-98-9 Arkansas Plants Rated " Superior" in Three Areas " Good" l
in One in Latest NRC Assessment 1
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February 20, 1998 ENCLOSURE M
Office of the Secretary Items of Interest Week Ending February 20, 1998 Commission Corresoondence Released to the Public 1.
Letter to Representatives Stephen Horn and Carolyn Maloney, dated February 12, 1998, provides the NRC's February 1998 quarterly report on the Year 2000 2.
Letter to Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson, dated February 12, 1998, concerns the NRC's final decision on its independent red,ation monitoring l
program i
Federal Reaister Notices issued-1.
10 CFR Parts 50 and 70: Criticality Accident Requirements: Withdrawal of Direct Final Rule and Revocation of Regulatory Text
-i February 20. 1998 ENCLOSURE O
Region I Items of Interest Week Ending February 20, 1998 Removal of a Cobalt-60 Teletheraov Unit at Enaiewood Hosoital and Medical Center Enalewood. New Jersev On February 13, 1998, an NRC inspertion was conducted at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center Englewood, New Jersey, to review the activities related to the dismantling and removal of their Cobalt 60 teletherapy treatment unit.
The removal of the Cobalt 60 machine was performed by X-Ray Equipment Company.
Mansfield. Texas.
The teletherapy machine head, containing the sealed source (approximately 2328 curies of Cobalt-60) was packed in the shipping cask USA 5796 B(U) and loaded into a truck owned by X Ray Equipment Company
'The X-Ray Equipment Company took the rest of the machine, including all depleted uranium shielding contained within the Picker C-9 unit.
A survey of the teletherapy room, performed after the source removal, confirmed that there was no radioactivity remaining in the room.
The teletherapy license will be terminated upon receipt of a written request from Englewood Hospital.
On February 16, 1998, X Ray Equipment Co. notified Region I. of the receipt of the source and the depleted uranium at its facility in Mansfield, Texas.
4 J
e February 20, 1998 ENCLOSURE P 4
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Region II Items of Interest Week Ending February 20, 1998 Federal-Emeraency Manaaement Aaency On February 17, 1998 the Regional Director, FEMA Region IV. visited the--
Regional Office and met with the Regional Administrator, and other select staff-members, to discuss programmatic areas of mutual interest.
FEMA IV includes all of the States within the Regional boundary, except for the 4,
Commonwealth of Virginia and the State of West Virginia.
- Ground Enaineerina and Testina Service. A Representatives from Ground Engineering and Testing Service. Inc., were in the J
Regional Office on February 18 for an open Predecisional Enforcement Conference.
Ground Engineering has a State of Kentucky license for use of 4
portable moisture / density gauges containing licensed materials. Ground j
l Engineering representatives discussed the causes and corrective actions taken for-the apparent violation, which was for failure to obtain a general or specific license before using licensed material in NRC jurisdiction.
Southern Nuclear Ooeratina Comoanv. Inc.
Representatives from Southern Nu ' ear Operating Company. Inc. were in the Regional Office on February 18 to discuss plans for onsite dry cask storage at the' Hatch facility. The licensea selected Holtec as the cask designer and will use either the Hi-Storm 100 or Hi-Star 100 system under a general license.
These systems are dual-purpose storage canister / transportation containers.
Pad pouring is scheduled from October through December 1998.
Completion of the pad is scheduled for July 1999. The licensee anticipated
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loading its first cask in April 2000.
-Carolina Power and Liaht Comoany - Robinson On-February 19, 1998, representatives from Carolina Power and Light Company were in the Regional Office for an open Predecisional Enforcement Conference.
The licensee discussed a number of calculation deficiencies identified during the _NRC Design Inspection and the potential inoperability of Safety Injection Pumps 8 and C due to insufficient net positive suction head resulting from a modification impleaented in March 1988.
Tennessee Vallev Authority - Seauovah 0n February 20l1998. representatives from Tennessee Valley Authority met with
- Regional managers to discuss Operational PN formance of the Sequoyah units, Items discussed included strengths and challenges in all functional areas.
7 TVA. described actions they have' taken to improve plant material condition.
February 20, 1998 ENCLOSURE P w
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Taiwan Atomic Enerav Council Visitors Two Resident inspectors ' rom the Taiwan Atomic Energy Council visited Region II on February 19, 1998.
The Region presented an_ overview of the-Resident inspector program and other technical inspection topics of interest.
They also observed a predecisional enforcement conference.
The visitors are currently attending the GE BWR/4 Advanced Technology Course series _in the NRC Technical Training Centor in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
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i February 20. 1998 ENCLOSURE P l
Region III Items of Interest Week Ending February 20, 1958 Predecisional Enforcement Conference with U.S. Enrichment Corocration On February 19, 1998, a Predecisional Enforcement Conference was conduc6ed between management representatives of U.S. Enrichment Corporation and members of the NRC staff. The conference was conducted to discuss the corporation's apparent weak implementation of the nuclear criticality safety program at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant. located in Piketon, Ohio.
This program establishes controls to ensure that, during operations, uranium remair,s subcritical. During an inspection in December and January, NRC inspectors found program inadequacies that included training, root cause evaluations and corrective actions.
In addition, inspectors noted an apparent failure by plant staff to implement all the required controls for a non-operating cell that contained a deposit of enriched uranium greater than the minimum sala amount.
NRC Regional A. Bill Beach participated in this conference.
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February 20, 1998 ENCLOSURE P
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Items of Interest Week Ending February 20, 1998 Hanaaement Meetino with Enterov Doerations. Inc.
A aredecisional enforcement conference was held with representatives of Artansas Nuclear One. Units 1 and 2 on February 20. 1998, in the Region IV.
Arlington. Texas, office.
The purpose of the meeting, which was open to public observation, was to discuss three apparent violations concerning activities associated with the removal of the Unit 1 borated water storage tank vacuum relief valve which may have potentially rendered some emergency core cooling systems inoperable under design basis accident conditions.
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February 20, 1998 ENCLOSURE P k
o Office of Congressional Affairs Items of Interest Week Ending February 20. 1998 l
CONGRESSIONAL HEARING SCHEDULE. NO. 5 I
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Gerke 02/24 3:00 TBA S. 981. Regulatory Improvement Senators Thompson /Glenn 342 DSOB Act 3cvernmental Affairs Gerke 02/25 10:00 TBA H.R. 1704. Establishing a Reps. Gekas/Nadler 2237 RHOB Co. gressional Office of
- ommercial & Admin Law Regulatory Analysis Judiciary Combs 03/03 TBA Markup S. 8. Superfund sen. Chafee/Baucus 406 050B Reauthorization Environment & Public Works Combs 03/04 10:00 Markup H.R. 2727. Superfund Reps. Boehlert/Borski 2167 RHOB Reauthorization dater Resources & Environment i
Transportation & Infrastructure Madden 03/11 10:00 00E FY99 Budget for DOE's Office Reps. McDade/Fazio 2362B RHOB of Nuclear Energy Energy & Water Appropriations t
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23628 RHOB Nuclear Waste Management Energy & Water Appropriations 4propriations i
Madden 03/17 9:30 DOE Environmental Management Senators Domenici/Reid 116 DSOB Program Energy & Water Development
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